A spoonful of honey everyday

Thousands of people swear by the effectiveness of a spoonful of honey everyday can help them to enjoy the summer without having to worry about pollen.

The principle behind it is desensitization. The sticky honey may also contain small amounts of the lighter wind blown pollens which inflames the lining of the nose. One suggestion could be that the body builds up a reaction to pollen. Theres has been no evidence of the effectiveness of honey on hay fever symptoms.

Most supporters of honey as a remedy recommend raw, unfiltered honey but David Bondi, chairman of the Honey Association says that any local product should work as honey is not a processed product. John Howat of the Bee Farmers Association of UK suggests opting for a multi-flora honey as that will contain a good mix of pollens.

So if you want to see if honey will work for you start now, don't wait till you start sneezing!

Read the complete article Honey: the sweetest cure for hay fever from The Telegraph.

Why Morning Seems To Be Worse For Those With A Runny Nose

                                  Image via WikipediaHave you noticed that mornings are the worst times of the day for those with a runny nose? You wake up in the morning and the whole chain of sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes begin making a miserable start to the day. Once the sneezing starts, you find it hard to stop.

Outdoor air is usually saturated with mold and pollen during the early morning between 5 am and 10am. A good remedy for a runny nose is to avoid outdoor activities which will help lessen exposure to these irritants to the nasal system. It might help to wear a face mask if you do need to be outside during these times when the pollen count is high.


Temperature or humidity changes can also trigger the membranes inside the nose to swell and as a result you have a runny nose. Skiers often develop a runny nose because of this. Some people start sneezing when they leave an air conditioned room while others have a runny nose when exposed to the cold.

More causes of non-allergic rhinitis

How Vitamin C Helps Stop The Runny Nose

Vitamin C Helps Lessen Runny Nose

During an allergic attack like hay fever the Vitmain C level drops while the histamine in the blood rises. Histamine is released when a person who has a sensitive immune system inhales pollen or dust. This causes itching, runny nose and sneezing.

According to research at the Arizona State University the people who consume 2,000 mg of Vitamin C per day have a blood histamine level 40 percent lower than those who consume the RDA (US Recommended Daily Allowance.)

Vitamin C doesn't block the histamine receptors like the anti-histamine drugs, which is what gives the quick relief. Vitamin C lowers the levels of histamines in the blood. It is safe to say that Vitamin C help prevent or lessen allergy symptoms over the long term. It doesn't act as a quick treatment for existing symptoms. 

In the long term it would seem that taking Vitamin C is a good remedy for a runny nose.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids together work better

Bioflavonoids are the substance that give fruits and vegetables their rich colour. They work in synergy with Vitamin C. This means when use together you will get more benefit.

The best bioflavonoid for hay fever is quercitin. It helps stablilise the cell membranes of those cells which discharge histamine into the blood stream. It is a natural anti-histamine helping to reduce inflammation of the nasal passages, the bronchial airways and the throat.

Foods which has this nutrient include red and yellow onions, shallots, squash, courgettes and broccoli.

Vitamin C rich foods - guave, bell peppers, strawberries, cabbage, kale. kiwi and oranges.

So the next time you buy some Vitamin C, look for those with bioflavonoids to stop your runny nose.